Celebrities Reveal Their Travel Secrets

When Vicki Lawrence of “Mama’s Family” travels, she likes to bring along a candle that smells like home. Blair Underwood, of “L.A. Law” fame, thinks the French Riviera city of Eze is the most romantic destination in the world. And “Dirty Jobs” host Mike Rowe recommends travelers avoid the bulkhead on an airplane and never check a bag.

These and other tidbits about the traveling habits of several actors, musicians and pop culture personalities can be found in the Chicago Tribune’s weekly “Go Away With…” column written by Jae-Ha Kim.

I first stumbled across Kim’s interview with Mike Rowe, the lovable host of the Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs” and narrator of “Deadliest Catch,” who extolled the virtues of destinations like Hawaii in which he doesn’t have to worry about lice, tapeworms and diarrhea.

But Rowe also had advice for readers: When in Hawaii, let someone buy you a cold drink with a funny straw; when staying at a hotel, don’t forget to tip the housekeeping staff; and always pack less than you think you need.

Since Rowe’s interview I’ve gone back and read earlier “Go Away With…” columns including one on journalist Lisa Ling who, like so many other mothers, is afraid other passengers will lash out at her if her baby makes noise on the plane. Her bucket list destinations include Morocco and Mongolia.

In Kim’s interview with Mayim Bialik, of TV’s “The Big Bang Theory,” I learned she tries to hit as many vegan restaurants as she can whenever she’s in New York City, uses lavender essential oil to calm herself down when she’s nervous about being on an airplane and always looks for a museum of Jewish history in every city she goes to.

Other personalities Jae-Ha Kim has interviewed for the column include Judah Friedlander, Billy Bush, Seth Rogan and many others.

Which “Go Away With…” column is your favorite? Which actor, musician, artist or cultural personality would you want to see featured?

— written by Dori Saltzman